Courtney Chang looks at a memorial for those killed in a mass shooting Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Las Vegas. A gunman opened fire on an outdoor music concert on Sunday, Oct. 1, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. (Photo by Gregory Bull, Associated Press)

Four days after 64-year-old retiree Stephen Paddock gunned down 58 people and injured hundreds, the broken windows of the hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort from which he opened fire could still be seen on Las Vegas Boulevard.

On the street, residents and tourists alike held up their phones to snap photos of the scene as they walk the famous Strip. The electronic billboards that line The Strip flash messages asking for prayers for the victims, thanking first responders and a social media tag #VegasStrong.

On Thursday, most were heading to a memorial for the victims that had sprouted at the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign or another on the traffic median in between the Luxor and the area where the Route 91 country music concert was held. A heavy police presence remains.

Shelley Boyle, left, and Cece Navarrette sit among crosses a display of crosses near the famous Las Vegas sign on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. The memorial honors those killed during the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history. (Photo by Gregory Bull, Associated Press)

Flowers and signs are left at a makeshift memorial for the victims of a mass shooting in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press)

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Courtney Chang looks at a memorial for those killed in a mass shooting Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Las Vegas. A gunman opened fire on an outdoor music concert on Sunday, Oct. 1, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. (Photo by Gregory Bull, Associated Press)

What happened Sunday, Oct. 1, in Las Vegas has become the talk of the world but to locals here, who depend on The Strip, there are lingering concerns of what this shooting might do to Las Vegas’ reputation and economy.

“Visitors see the glamour, glitter and they party hard and loud and leave their litter and perhaps a little dignity behind – we never tell or judge,” said Mary Krevosh, a 60-year-old philanthropist, who has lived here for the past 15 years. “This is the real and constant Las Vegas we know all the time.”

At the Peppermill, a popular local restaurant, diners could be overheard discussing the shooting that left 59 dead including the shooter and 500 injured. Nightly memorials and praying sessions are held throughout the city.

Las Vegas has transformed from its seedy mob past and “Sin City” label, to a world-renowned entertainment destination with a popular moniker, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Southern Californians account for 27 percent of the city’s 43 million visitors, according to a study prepared for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

“The Strip is one big house with a lot of rooms,’” Krevosh said. “The party crowd – mostly from Southern California – arrive Thursday or Friday night for the weekend then when they leave Sunday, the conventioneers come to town until Wednesday or Thursday.”

She calls it “turn and burn.”

The violent shooting could break up or lessen the cycle.

The Las Vegas Strip is the life-blood and economic engine of Clark County, Nevada. More than 407,000 people are employed in tourism in Southern Nevada.

An Applied Analysis report released April 2017 for the city’s tourism bureau showed the county collected $658 million in room tax in fiscal 2016. Part of that money – 35 percent – keeps the engine going promoting tourism, 39 percent funds education with the remaining going to the local government and a small percentage to transportation. Clark County collected $752 million in sales and use tax. The casinos are also heavily involved and fund a lot of the city’s philanthropy, giving to several nonprofits and charities.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority declined to comment on any potential impacts the shooting may have on the County’s economy.

“The thoughts and prayers of all of Las Vegas go out to the victims and their families,” Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said in a statement. “This was a horrific, yet isolated, incident. At this time, it is important to allow the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police to conclude their investigation into the incident and to attend to the needs of the victims and their families.”

Aquilino Alcantara, 75, is a 20-year resident of Las Vegas and former IT employee at the United Nations in New York. He and his wife, Letitia, came out west to escape the cold temperatures.

“We were expecting this to happen,” said Alcantara of the shooting. “We always knew Las Vegas is a prime target. We were hoping it didn’t happen. But it did happen.”

Alcantara, who frequently hosts guests from out of town, said Las Vegas will probably see a decline in tourism in the short term but he expects it to rebound.

“I was very proud of our law enforcement and first responders,” Alcantara said. “They responded right away. They’ll make changes and make it safer for everyone.”

Alexandria Burdette, 27, held hands with strangers and prayed over the memorial near Luxor. Flowers, cards, balloons and stuffed animals decorated the area. The smell of candles wafted in the air. Pictures of some of the victims lay on the ground. Some visitors wept openly at the site.

“I think now more than ever we need more tourists to come here to show the world that we are not afraid,” said Burdette, a 6-year resident. “We want them to have fun and carry on. We’ll remember what happened. We’ll make it safer so they can continue to have a good time just like before.”

Krevosh wants people to know that The Strip is more than just one long street and tourists should not be deterred from visiting.

“We are more than just glitter,” she said. “We are a great city of neighbors from every country, walk of life and extraordinary talent. It’s the most generous town. Las Vegas is a very safe city, a fantastic city.

“Time will soothe but not rewind the clock for us. It’s now part of the fabric of Las Vegas and America.”

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